Break-In at John Harvard Library

The new John Harvard Library had been the victim of some pretty nasty organised thugs who used a sledge-hammer to gain entry via the front glass door. They had previously tried to break the side window in the adjacent alley.
Talking to one of the Librarians, he told me that they made straight for the BluRay and PS3 disks but ignored the computers and the till. I asked how they got in throught the inner locking glass doors and was told that they were unlocked because of the cleaners and that there was only one set of keys!

Now I don't know abou how you folks feel about this, but frankly I am amazed and disgusted how this can occur in a newly opened facility.

Where are the security screens CCTV and bright liting in this scheme? answer...there aren't any.

My criticism goes to Southwark for allowing this to happen. Common sense dictates that if you present a glass "Jewel-Box" with expensive gifts inside, with no security, then the local Feral Thiefs are likely to take advantage.

Don't get me wrong on this as I apportion no blame to the hands-on librarian staff whoe are all brilliant at their jobs an feel as sickened about this opportunistic theft and criminal damage perpetrated by scum of the earth.

I would however like answers to the points I have raised and am CCing this to Counsellor Zuletta.

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Stealing from a lending library is pretty low.
don't suppose they'll bring them back either - how many went missing?
At least the interior doors are intact, if the miscreants smashed the exterior doors, surely they wouldn't waste time picking the locks on the interior doors.

Stealing from a lending library is pretty low.
don't suppose they'll bring them back either - how many went missing?
At least the interior doors are intact, if the miscreants smashed the exterior doors, surely they wouldn't waste time picking the locks on the interior doors.

They're a plague of cockroaches, these people, trying to ruin everything that's good.

Was it during the day and the library occupied!? If so, it must have been so frightening for those using/working in the library. I am a member but have yet to visit the revamped version. I hope they get caught swiftly,

I agree with Glodge, they need solid steel shutters, that come down and don't just lock at one central point, but with a series of ' bolt's going into the concrete.
Before any more of these thieves get in again, I feel a specialist firm of security experts should be brought in.
We might as well leave the bluray things ( i know what they are)and ps3 (what are they?) out on the pavement in a box with a sign that says ' help yourself' and loads of cctv pointing at all external walls.

what a flipping shame..and there is only one set of keys, so the door is left unlocked for the cleaner, talk about ' all for the want of a horshoe nail'.

I think it would be sad if this becomes yet another metal shuttered fortress. This is one of the only attractive, open shopfronts in the street.

And anyway the cost of all those features is probably more than losing a couple of grand's worth of discs.

Organised crime = planned, not local, difficult to prevent. I don't think they were looking to expand their collection of games, they may be counterfeiters/copiers. Maybe they had a tip-off about the unlocked doors.... anyway less of my Sherlocking

Just to correct a few inaccuracies, the building was entered via the front door by means of a sledge hammer. The thieves had also tried to enter the library via Angel Place using the same approach but the glass withstood attack. All doors, except for one internal one, were locked and there is a keyless security system for staff only areas. Even if doors had not been locked, this would not have prevented this break-in. All of the items stolen were in security cases which would have prevented their theft during operational hours. The building is alarmed and has CCTV - a copy of the film has been given to the police as part of their investigation.